THE
MICK POINTER
INTERVIEW

The first time Silhobbit interviewed Mick Pointer it was way back in 1988, several years before he began his musical comeback after Marillion. Since then he has released the artistically acclaimed solo album 'Jack and the Progressive Beanstalk'  also the collectable 'Sunset Voyage' EP, and the massively successful Arena full band stuff. Indeed it was Silhobbit who persuaded Mick to take up where he left off and pursue the musical career that we yearned for and, for prog's sake, we got. But we got a lot more than that, a lot more...

Silhobbit reporter Eric Ribble met up with Pointer at Whipsnade Safari Park in Bedfordshire.

ER "Let's talk about your musical career. Why in 1988, did you decide to start playing again?"

MP "Well, after the first Silhobbit interview, I had a phone call from Camel's Andy Latimer. He said that he'd like to have a jam and get pissed so we arranged to meat up with a bloke called Rick Splinters and ex Jethro Tull man Neal Nealson. We jammed and got pissed and it was great fun and quite nostalgic playing around with bits from early Marillion and Camel etc."

ER "Then what happened?"

MP "Well, to cut a long story shore, a few months later I had a call from Andy again and he wanted to know if I'd be interested in writing some music for a pantomime with the possibility of recording it, I thought about it and my family were all behind me to do it. I wrote the stuff and we recorded a live performance at Watford Theatre, where the acoustics are the best in England for orchestras. (although it also had the standard rock instruments as well - Charlie O’Mara). The albums were put on sale during the month long rum of the pantomime and several hundred were sold on vinyl only. Verglas are going to release it on CD along with the 'Sunset Voyage' ep.

ER "When Charlie O'Mara told me that I had to interview you, he told me to get you pissed and find out some juicy gossip."

MP "I do like getting pissed but I'm afraid that my life is as clean as a nun's sex-aid draw. You can dig dirt with your spade but you've got more chance of finding hair in Mark Kelly's comb as you have finding scandal with me."

ER "That's not quite true is it Mick... can you deny that you didn't supply and watch pornographic films at Clive Nolan's house on New Years Eve?"

MP "Er… well… that was a mix up because I borrowed what I thought was the Floyd film 'The Wall' but the Silhobbit journalist swapped the tapes over and we ended up watching what can only be described as a filthy and degrading adult film"

ER "Ok. What do you really think, straight from your heart, of the Marillion boys?"

MP sighs and takes a long sip on his beer.

MP "Well, I suppose I owe my success to Silhobbit and so I'd better give you some straight answers. For the first few years since the shit, I hated all of them as much as Nick Barratt hates spending his prog-dosh. I even once thought about hiring someone to hurt them on tour. Mosely was the worst because he was doing my job, although Fish was worser for bringing about my departure, I really hated Fish and I used to dream about turning up to his funeral in a clown's outfit! Nowadays I've put the bridge over the water and indeed I'm friends with Steve Rothery and Pete, Pete would pick up a piece of shit if you told him to"

ER "How did the Arena stuff happen?"

MP "Basically an ex Silhobbit reporter told me about a bloke called Nolan. He brought him to a pub in Cheddington along with a couple of girls who were desperate to meet me. I'd heard the stuff Clive had done and we discussed what we wanted to do. We then began writing stuff. SI magazine - showed very little interest so we thought 'fuck them', we'll do it on our own label. Now we've sold nearly 30,000 copies!"

At this point Mick is sick all over the table and we are asked to leave, where we conduct the rest of the interview in his car.

ER "Is it true that Carson tried it on with Clive when they shared a room in Holland at the 'Web' convention?"

MP "No comment"

ER "Is it true that your knob is so small that your parents thought you were a baby girl?"

MP "No comment"

ER "Mick, do you regret making the comeback"

MP "Before, my life was normal. I worked hard, I drank hard, and I shagged hard. Now, I work harder, I drink more and I shag a lot more"

ER "I'm not sure if that answers the question"

MP "What was the question?"

ER "I can't remember"

MP "What can't you remember?"

ER "I can't remember the question I was asking you"

MP "Can I ask myself a question?

ER "Ok. Go on then"

MP "Mick, Your music is excellent and you are very good looking'

MP "Well. Thank you."

At this point Mick continues talking to himself and we decide to leave him to his good self.